Bioactive compounds and antioxidant properties of pseudocereals-enriched water biscuits and their in vitro digestates.

Carotenoids, tocols, phenolic acids and antioxidant capacity were studied during in vitro digestion of water biscuits (WB) from bread wheat, einkorn and einkorn-pseudocereals. Antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of digestates were also measured using a 70% Caco2/30% HT-29 human intestinal co-culture layer. Antioxidant profiles differed among WB formulations. Only hydrophilic molecules were solubilised by gastric digestion. After intestinal digestion, 77% carotenoids and 67% tocols were released. Soluble-conjugated phenolic acids increased (30%) and insoluble-bound forms decreased (17%), suggesting partial conversion from bound to conjugated form. After intestinal digestion, antioxidant capacity increased regardless of type and amount of antioxidants in undigested or digested WB. All WB, especially those with quinoa flour, reduced the AAPH pro-oxidant capacity in co-culture cells. These results highlight the potential health benefits of underutilized crops and the need for in vitro or in vivo models to better address potential bioactivity at intestinal and target organs level.

[Severe recurrent intrahepatic cholestasis in systemic AL amyloidosis without obvious liver involvement: unexplained hepatic toxicity or a case of misdiagnosed liver amyloidosis?]. / Colestasi intraepatica in corso di amiloidosi sistemica AL senza evidenza istologica di un coinvolgimento epatico: un caso di epatopatia tossica o una mancata diagnosi di amiloidosi epatica?

We report the case of a 50-year-old woman who was admitted to the hospital for acute abdominal pain with nephrotic proteinuria, rapidly progressive renal failure, and moderate anemia. Laboratory tests showed mild Bence Jones (λ) proteinuria with negative serum immunofixation and a mild increase in λ free light chains. A bone marrow biopsy and a fat tissue aspirate showed multiple myeloma and amyloidosis. Because of the end-stage renal disease, the patient began regular dialysis treatment and was started on bortezomib 1.3 mg/m2 plus dexamethasone 40 mg on days 1, 4, 8 and 11 of 21-day cycles. Ten days later she complained of a new episode of abdominal pain with jaundice. A CT scan and an MRI scan ruled out all secondary causes of cholangitis including cancer. Acute intrahepatic cholestasis due to amyloid deposition was then hypothesized. After 4 well tolerated cycles of bortezomib and dexamethasone, blood tests showed a complete hematological response with full reversal of cholestasis. After three months, a new episode of abdominal pain occurred and this time the patient was operated on and found to have an intestinal volvulus. Because of the jaundice, a transjugular liver biopsy was performed showing no evidence of amyloid deposits. Two months later the patient died of septic shock. Although no autopsy was performed and the ultimate cause of the cholestasis could not be ascertained, amyloidosis remains the major culprit in this unfortunate case.